NCJ Number
161693
Journal
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs Volume: 22 Issue: 4 Dated: (October- December 1990) Pages: 451-459
Date Published
1990
Length
9 pages
Annotation
For employee drug testing to fulfill its promise as a vital part of the effort to end the drug abuse epidemic, it is essential that the tests be reliable so that people who are not using drugs are not falsely accused and that legitimate medical use of controlled drugs not expose employees to harassment or labeling as drug abusers.
Abstract
To merit employee confidence, workplace drug testing needs to be made part of a program that includes nine basic elements: (1) a clear and comprehensive policy, (2) secure collection, (3) chain-of-custody procedures, (4) retained positive samples, (5) an initial screening test, (6) a sophisticated confirmatory test, (7) a medical review officer, (8) a retest of retained positive samples in disputed cases, and (9) a system of quality control. The drug testing program needs also to rest on a solid foundation that distinguishes between the legitimate use of prescribed medicines and nonmedical drug use. This differentiation is the primary responsibility of the medical review officer. 27 references (Author abstract modified)